Author: Jim

Community Health Needs Assessment Report

Release

Eighteen regional hospitals in Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, supported by the Health Care Improvement Foundation, Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations, and the Philadelphia, Chester, and Montgomery County health departments, have published a comprehensive report detailing community health issues that affect their patient populations.

https://mailchi.mp/phila.gov/eighteen-hospitals-in-philadelphia-area-complete-first-ever-regional-community-health-needs-assessment?e=[UNIQID]

Inquirer

“With the criteria that the institutions used to do the ratings, you think about what issues are having a big magnitude in terms of impacting a larger number of community members. And then you think about what’s actually on people’s minds, what they are feeling the burden of,” said Raynard Washington, the chief epidemiologist for Philadelphia’s health department.

The opioid crisis, he said, was at the top of both lists.

“It’s virtually impossible not to see it as a major health issue,” he said.

https://www.inquirer.com/health/opioid-crisis-pennsylvania-hospitals-health-assessment-20190718.html

By Aubrey Whelan

KYW

The report focuses on communities and their needs, which meant going into neighborhoods and interviewing individuals served by the hospitals. Dr. Raynard Washington with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health says they learned it’s not easy for people to find the resources they need.

“A common theme is additional supports to help people navigate the very complex healthcare and health resource systems that we have,” Washington said.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/improve-care-philly-area-hospitals-examine-challenges-neighborhoods

By Hadas Kuznits

Hahnemann Obstetrics Closure

As for ending obstetric services, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health said in a statement: “The city is aware of the announcement and continues to work with obstetrics departments across the city to ensure that every pregnant mother and newborn infant gets the best care throughout pregnancy, delivery, and afterwards.”

https://www.inquirer.com/health/hahnemann-closure-maternity-labor-delivery-maternal-mortality-20190709.html

By Sarah Gantz and Marie McCullough

Lewis Lloyd Death

Des Moines Register

Lloyd, one of the Missouri Valley Conference’s all-time greats in his two years with the program, died Friday at age 60. James Garrow, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office, told the Register Lloyd died from an accidental “drug intoxication.”

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/drake/drake-bulldogs/2019/07/08/lewis-lloyd-drake-mens-basketball-bulldogs-bob-ortegel-nba-jimmy-carter-golden-state-warriors/1668573001/

By Tommy Birch

Philly Tribune

James Garrow, spokesman for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, confirmed Tuesday that the MEO ruled that Lloyd’s death at the age of 60 last Friday “was accidental and was caused by drug intoxication.”

https://www.phillytrib.com/news/city-coroner-cites-drug-intoxication-in-lewis-lloyd-s-death/article_7c6fce2c-0e1f-528b-b1c7-3e8d7d4ea551.html

By Daryl Bell

Inquirer

James Garrow, spokesman for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, said Tuesday that the medical examiner’s office had determined Lloyd’s death was “accidental from drug intoxication.” No other details would be revealed publicly.

https://www.inquirer.com/high-school-sports/pennsylvania/lewis-lloyd-obituary-philadelphia-basketball-warriors-rockets-20190709.html

By Mike Jensen

Resources for HIV-Positive Latinos

NBC10

“We noticed that the people who were at highest risk were not as aware of PrEP,” said Greg Seaney-Ariano, of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. In the last five years alone, there has been a 17% increase in Latinos with HIV diagnoses, according to the department.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/HIV-Screening-and-Prevention-Available-to-All-in–511898032.html

By Miguel Martinez-Valle and Eddi Cabrera Blanco

Telemundo 62

(Auto-translate from Spanish)

“It is alarming that most people are not aware of getting tested for HIV and being treated for HIV,” said Maria Seno, supervisor of the AIDS Activity Coordinating Office (AACO) education program. , a division of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health whose focus is AIDS prevention and help for people living with the disease.

Lack of knowledge has resulted in a 17 percent increase in the number of Latinos diagnosed with the virus in the last 5 years.

The frequency of HIV in the Latino community is 10 times higher than that of the general population in Philadelphia. Two out of 10 people diagnosed in 2017 were Latinos.

“What is alarming is the fact that we have the treatment, we have the knowledge to not only protect individuals who do not have HIV but also prolong life and quality of life for those who are living with HIV,” said Seno.

https://www.telemundo62.com/noticias/destacados/Luchan-para-prevenir-el-VIH-entre-la-comunidad-latina-de-Filadelfia-513140471.html?akmobile=o

By Miguel Martinez-Valle and Rudy Chinchilla

PES Fire Press Conference

WHYY

But Philadelphia’s deputy health commissioner, Caroline Johnson, said the windy day helped clear the air of any pollutants that could have affected city residents.

“Based on aggressive sampling of air quality in the region of PES, we found nothing of concern, and we see no evidence that there’s been an impact on the health of the public in Philadelphia,” Johnson said.

https://whyy.org/articles/city-officials-to-convene-working-group-on-the-pes-refinery-fire-while-residents-rally-to-shut-the-plant-down/

By Susan Phillips and Dana Bate

KYW

Deputy Health Commissioner Caroline Johnson said Air Management Services has been doing “aggressive” monitoring of chemicals associated with fires and burning fuel.

“They have been doing daily inspections in the community and along the fence line of PES (Philadelphia Energy Solutions), and all of those have been negative,” she said, adding there’s no evidence of any other public health effects.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/city-officials-say-no-evidence-elevated-chemical-levels-after-refinery-fire

By Pat Loeb

NBC10

Dr. Caroline Johnson said Health Department staff have been conducting “very aggressive” air quality monitoring in neighborhoods surrounding Philadelphia Energy Solutions’ Girard Point refinery since Friday morning.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/South-Philadelphia-Refinery-Fire-Explosion-Aftermath-Update-511785561.html

By Vince Lattanzio

Inquirer

Dr. Caroline Johnson, a deputy health commissioner for the city, said experts had been carefully checking air quality for any increase in noxious chemicals and found none. On Friday, she said, tests showed very minor elevations of acetone and ethanol, but those quickly abated.

She noted that there was no evidence of any release of hydrogen fluoride, a deadly chemical used in refining. Nor, she said, was there any spike in visits to area emergency rooms for breathing problems.

https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-fire-refinery-cause-health-pes–20190625.html

By Willliam Bender and Craig McCoy

Patch

While the scene at PES is still active, there is no threat to the community, officials said.

Health officials said air quality monitoring is ongoing.

https://patch.com/pennsylvania/chestnuthill/philly-refinery-explosion-fire-probe-could-take-years-officials

By Max Bennett

AP

The city’s deputy health commissioner said Tuesday that aggressive air monitoring has turned up nothing of note and that emergency rooms have not reported increases in people with respiratory distress.

Dr. Caroline Johnson also said air samples tested for 61 chemical compounds found “very minor” elevations of acetone and ethanol Friday but nothing since then.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/us/article/Refinery-fire-not-formally-under-control-no-14046661.php

Inquirer 2

Health concerns: Mayor Jim Kenney notes that “there are no findings that would suggest a threat to public health.” Dr. Caroline Johnson, a deputy health commissioner for the city, said hydrogen fluoride was not released.

https://www.inquirer.com/business/refinery-close-philadelphia-energy-solutions-fire-timeline-20190626.html

By Patricia Madej

Curbed Philly

Philly’s Department of Public Health reported Friday that they took samples of the air with hand monitors right outside the plant and through the neighborhood, looking for hydrocarbons, combustibles, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide. All tests came back negative, said the health department’s communications director James Garrow.

The department conducted 18 more tests over the weekend, all of which came back negative, he said Monday.

On Saturday and Sunday the department also took grab samples and tested the air around the plant for 61 different volatile compounds. All 61 compounds came back as being below legal limits, though two compounds—acetone and ethanol—were reported as being higher than usual, Garrow said.

https://philly.curbed.com/2019/6/26/18759682/pes-shut-down-refinery-oil-permanently

By Anna Merriman

Naloxone in the Community

But something happens when civilians receive greater access to the life-saving drug: Its usage becomes harder to track. That’s because when more naloxone gets in the hands of private civilians, many of whom may be drug users themselves, they’re able to administer the drug — usually Narcan, the brand-name for the version given nasally — before paramedics arrive on the scene. And increasingly, health department officials say, paramedics aren’t being called at all. “People using drugs are doing this all the time and not reporting it,” says Allison Herens, the health department’s harm reduction coordinator, who performs naloxone trainings and tracks its use citywide.

https://www.phillymag.com/news/2019/06/24/narcan-giveaway-paradox/

By David Murrell